Category Archives: Advice

Theme Parks and Obesity

As well as the huge health implications the obesity epidemic is also an issue for theme parks and their guests. The populations of the western world are getting bigger and so there are more and more people who are going to have problems when they visit the parks. I think awareness of the problems should be raised because guests are spending large amounts of money to visit parks in which many of the attractions will be off limits for them due to their size. Continue reading

Ride Availability

blue fire (650x488)

There are many factors which affect the success of any day at a theme park and one of them is certainly the availability of the rides. Few things are worse than finding that your favourite attraction is closed or having your valuable time wasted by standing in a queue line waiting for a ride to be fixed after a breakdown. It is always best to have as much information as possible at your disposal before travelling and there are some tactics you can adopt to maximise your chances of bagging a ride on your favourites. Continue reading

Painful and Unpleasant Rides

Theme park rides are supposed to be fun but some have a tendency to inflict pain and discomfort whilst they are delivering the thrills! Rides can inflict injury in all manner of ways and there are some attractions that I now avoid at all costs in order to prevent a hospital trip during my visit. Here are some of the more unfortunate machines I have experienced which you should take on advisedly. Continue reading

How to Avoid Crowds and Queues at Theme Parks

 

Theme parks are now so popular that on many days they can be choked with visitors. It is not uncommon for parks to reach capacity and shut their doors and a really busy day can make for a very poor experience. If you have spent a fortune getting into a park you really don’t want to spend your day in seemingly endless queues do how do you avoid the crowds?

thunder-mountain

 

Off Peak

 

Even the most popular parks have quiet periods and these are largely the best time to visit but are always during school term times and so if you have kids things are more difficult. There is plenty of information online regarding visitor numbers at the various parks and it is usually possible to deduce the best times to make the trip. Parks which are only open for part of the year because of the weather can be a tougher proposition as the number of people who wish to visit must be condensed into a shorter period of time but there will still be quiet days. As a general rule of thumb September is a quiet time at most parks and the winter months are a fabulous time to try Disneyland Paris. The one time you really don’t want to visit a park is just after the opening of a major new attraction. Anyone who went to Alton Towers after the opening of the Smiler or to Disney California Adventure when Cars Land was premiered will know what I mean!

 

There are some drawbacks to off peak visiting which should be born in mind. This is the time when parks which are open year round will perform maintenance on their attractions. You will probably find that at least one ride is closed during your stay but some parks, notably Disney, do advertise their closures well in advance. The other potential pitfall is the weather. Most parks in colder climes close in the winter but Disneyland Paris is open all year and it can get very cold. The last time I visited in February it was -10 degrees and I need my fur lined footwear!

 

Pay Extra

 

If you cannot avoid the busier periods at a park then one way you can at least reduce the amount of time you spend queuing is to avail yourself of the accelerated access schemes operated at some destinations. Many parks operate a VIP or Fast Pass system for which you pay extra but it may be worth budgeting extra for this privilege. The systems vary and there are usually several options to choose from so check them out online and decide what is best for you.

 

Tactics

 

If you can’t afford the additional costs of accelerated access then it is time to consider your tactics carefully. Even on busy days it is possible to enhance your trip by tackling the park in the right way. Arrive early and be one of the first through the door. Head for a couple of the biggest attractions first and ride these before the queues build up. After that, head for the far reaches of the park and work your way back towards the entrance as most people will be moving in the opposite direction. Eat outside of normal dining hours. Lunch time and early evening are when the restaurants are at their busiest and the ride queues subside for a time. Most parks are best visited over more than one day. On your second day if the park has a parade and a show at the end of the day then miss these and take on the rides. Most guests will be lining the streets for the parade and the rides can be quiet. The rides are generally at their busiest late morning so use these times to eat and do your shopping.

 

The best thing you can do to ensure a successful trip to a theme park is your homework! Find out as much as you can before you travel and seek the advice of people who have visited before. Have your plan of action worked out in advance and your trip will be considerably enhanced.

Byline

Article by Sally Stacey

Theme Park Safety and Small Children

Whilst theme parks are generally pretty safe places to be they can be hazardous for small children and sadly most of the threats to young visitors arise from the behaviour of their parents. Whilst working at a park I saw some of the most ridiculous and irresponsible behaviour from many adults who clearly had no concept of dangerous the environment could be. I never witnessed a disaster but on several occasions it was a close run thing! Continue reading

The Pros and Cons of Working at a Theme Park

A theme park is obviously a fun environment with an upbeat atmosphere where you get to be part of a team and so some of the attractions of the job are obvious. There are other perks to be considered if you are considering applying for a job on the rides but several downsides too which should not be overlooked. Continue reading

How to Dress for a Theme Park Visit

Giving advice about what to wear for a day out at a theme park might seem a little curious but having worked at a park for several years I can tell you that clothing is a major consideration. Guests who dress inappropriately can run into trouble and the problems do not stop at being uncomfortable. The wrong attire can result in being denied access to a ride and can cause operational and safety issues too so here are some tips on how to dress for a successful day out. Continue reading

Christmas at Disneyland Paris

disney-castle-christmas

No one does Christmas quite like Disney and if you haven’t experienced the festive season at one of their parks you have really missed something! Not only do you get the brilliant decorations and a unique atmosphere, there are also special festive attractions to enjoy. The best news of all is that Christmas is an extended season at Disney so you can experience all the fun and cheer in the build-up to the big day and take advantage of some great deals at the park. Continue reading

Stay Safe at Theme Parks

Major theme parks are generally very safe places for people to visit with serious incidents being comparatively rare. From time to time, however, a nasty event will occur and whilst there is nothing you can do to avoid being caught up in a mechanical failure there are ways of keeping yourself safe from other forms of disaster. Roller Coasters and thrill rides are huge chunks of metal travelling at high speed and so present all sorts of potential hazards. These machines should be treated with great respect as should the rules of the park. Continue reading

Value Your Possessions!

blue-fire-rocks

In most theme parks around the world you will signs as you approach the thrill rides requesting that you do not take bags and loose items onto the ride with you. Lockers and bag rooms are provided to store your things before you ride and these are often free of very low cost options. Sadly many guests ignore these instructions because they do not understand the implications of what they are doing and the results can be rather unfortunate. Having worked in a theme park for several years I know exactly what can happen when loose items are taken onto rides and it is not funny! Continue reading